ROCKFORD — About 1,000 people attended Saturday's second public Transform Rockford meeting, just 400 shy of the group's first meeting a month ago, when organizers called that turnout "tremendous."

The meeting, billed as a "community conversation," at Ellis Elementary School featured comparisons of top-tier cities with Rockford and comments by attendees. The first forum presented "brutal facts" about the city's social and economic troubles.

"The problem with Rockford is, you don't have a visionary leader," said Prophet Yusef, a community activist and retired teacher.

His solutions include diversifying performers booked at entertainment venues and bolstering job opportunities for those who are mechanically inclined.

Transform Rockford, formed by business and civic leaders, aims to turn the city into one of the nation's most desirable places to live and do business by 2025 with input from community members from all walks of life. A handful of business leaders have pledged $3 million to keep the process going.

Attendees heard presenters talk about attributes of other cities. They showed that Chicago Rockford International Airport is an economic gem, but crime, poverty and unemployment compare badly with other cities.

For example, Elgin has 57 percent less violent crime than Rockford, its home values are twice Rockford's and its poverty rate is half of Rockford's. Elgin also is ranked among the FBI's 100 safest communities.

Also, the Rockford area has lost 15,000 jobs since 2007, with an unemployment rate of 10 percent. Down in Charleston, S.C., unemployment hovers at 6 percent, courtesy of a diversified economic base: tourism, automotive and aerospace.

Strengths in the Rockford area include the expansion at the Chrysler plant in Belvidere and Woodward Inc.'s building of an airplane-parts factory in Loves Park, with an addition of 1,500 jobs expected in a decade as a result.

Flossie Hoarde, a teacher's aide, said transforming Rockford "at the end of the day, starts at home. But if the home is broken, you can't expect it to fix itself."

Mike Bacon, public health administrator for the Winnebago County Health Department, spoke during the question-and-answer period. He called for special attention to efforts for children up to 3 years old.